Reviews and questions about the entry-level MPC500
By Felly Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:07 pm
Ok so I watched a video online that says in order to record a song into an mp3 you have to press mode record, then play your song and it will record it. However on my 128 mb card it said I only have 41 seconds left of recording. So instead of deleting files on that card i went to radioshack and got a 4gb card (thinking that it would have loads of recording space), but this card only has 41 seconds as well. My full beat song is around 3 minutes so this 41 seconds isnt gonna work out.

Am I doing something wrong with the memory cards?
Is there an easier way to upload my full beat song to my itunes?
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By ArKyve-31 Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:17 pm
Felly wrote:Ok so I watched a video online that says in order to record a song into an mp3 you have to press mode record, then play your song and it will record it. However on my 128 mb card it said I only have 41 seconds left of recording. So instead of deleting files on that card i went to radioshack and got a 4gb card (thinking that it would have loads of recording space), but this card only has 41 seconds as well. My full beat song is around 3 minutes so this 41 seconds isnt gonna work out.

Am I doing something wrong with the memory cards?
Is there an easier way to upload my full beat song to my itunes?


The card acts like a hard drive for saving, To increase recording time you must upgrade The RAM located in a slot under the mpc accessed by removing two screws, it also is non proprietary, not just any ram will work you must purchase the akai exm128 . Plus it will still not be a mp3 it will come out as a wave, the mpc DOES NOT Recognize mp3's, best bet is to track the song out into your pc and find a free conversion software.
By Felly Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:16 am
Ill-Green wrote:I like to burn my beats on CD and then rip them to my computer. I got the option at ripping to convert them wav or mp3. Just my solution.




I would be fine with doing that, but would you be able to explain how to upload a beat onto a CD so I can rip it to my computer?
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By Ill-Green Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:55 am
Sure, just connect the outs of the MPC to a stand-alone CD-recorder.

Some DAWs has a built-in CD burner in them like Tascam's DP-02 FX/CD model. My MV has a dedicated CD burner in it.

But thats how I do, I'm sure there is plenty of free-ware to convert wav files to mp3.
By Felly Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:48 am
Ill-Green wrote:Sure, just connect the outs of the MPC to a stand-alone CD-recorder.

Some DAWs has a built-in CD burner in them like Tascam's DP-02 FX/CD model. My MV has a dedicated CD burner in it.

But thats how I do, I'm sure there is plenty of free-ware to convert wav files to mp3.




So you would recommend buying a CD recorder instead of an audio interface? I know absolutely nothing about this topic but I have people telling me to buy an interface so I can record right into my mac and send songs back and forth between mac and mpc
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By BGREEN Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:55 am
You can go that route, or you can plug the mpc into the mic input on the mac and record into an audio editor like audacity or something. Most of those programs also convert to MP3.

Really no need for an interface just to do that.
By Felly Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:03 am
BGREEN wrote:You can go that route, or you can plug the mpc into the mic input on the mac and record into an audio editor like audacity or something. Most of those programs also convert to MP3.

Really no need for an interface just to do that.




Hi sorry if my questions strike you as stupid, but what cords would I need to do this? Where is the the mic input on the mac? It's a macbook if that helps, the only inputs it has are headphones, firewires, and usb. Could this record into garageband?
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By BGREEN Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:33 am
Felly wrote:
BGREEN wrote:You can go that route, or you can plug the mpc into the mic input on the mac and record into an audio editor like audacity or something. Most of those programs also convert to MP3.

Really no need for an interface just to do that.




Hi sorry if my questions strike you as stupid, but what cords would I need to do this? Where is the the mic input on the mac? It's a macbook if that helps, the only inputs it has are headphones, firewires, and usb. Could this record into garageband?


I don't own a mac, I was assuming it had a line in/audio in/mic in, or something like that...

Image

If not, then I guess you might need an interface after all.

If the mac does have the input, then it is more than likely a 1/8th stereo plug..

The MPC has 1/4" jacks so you will need a 1/8" stereo to 1/4" cord..

Image
http://www.zzounds.com/item--HOSCMP15

Yes garageband should work too, but I have never used it and don't know if it converts to MP3.. Again, I would assume it does, but I'm not sure.
By rageone Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:29 am
yah... and after you record everything you can burn it to a cd with your mac and rip it back :D

there`s also a lot of mp3 players that have a line in for recording or other stuff...
i for example have a minidisc player that i use :)) kinda antique but good to record vinyl :>
By Felly Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:10 pm
BGREEN wrote:
Felly wrote:
BGREEN wrote:You can go that route, or you can plug the mpc into the mic input on the mac and record into an audio editor like audacity or something. Most of those programs also convert to MP3.

Really no need for an interface just to do that.




Hi sorry if my questions strike you as stupid, but what cords would I need to do this? Where is the the mic input on the mac? It's a macbook if that helps, the only inputs it has are headphones, firewires, and usb. Could this record into garageband?


I don't own a mac, I was assuming it had a line in/audio in/mic in, or something like that...

Image

If not, then I guess you might need an interface after all.

If the mac does have the input, then it is more than likely a 1/8th stereo plug..

The MPC has 1/4" jacks so you will need a 1/8" stereo to 1/4" cord..

Image
http://www.zzounds.com/item--HOSCMP15

Yes garageband should work too, but I have never used it and don't know if it converts to MP3.. Again, I would assume it does, but I'm not sure.





So after viewing the diagram of the mac inputs could one of those be used to plug in the 1/8" stereo to 1/4"cord?

If not, I suppose I would have to get an interface, what exactly could this help me do?

Thanks a lot man youre saving me